News Archives - 2010

October 26, 2010

Wind Power's Impact on Grid Reliability, Backup Supply, and Fossil Fuel Use in New England Webinar

The Webinar included a discussion on the impact of wind's variability on power systems and reviewed preliminary results of the New England Wind Integration Study with a question and answer session.

September 28, 2010

Explosion in Installed Wind Capacity Brings Big Benefits

Dave Loomis, Illinois State University Professor of Economics and Center for Renewable Energy Director, in an interview says, "We've grown to this point [more than 1800 megawatts of installed wind power capacity]so rapidly because there was unconstrained transmission resources available, but we're starting to bump up against resource constraints on the transmission grid. And so to really unlock more of that potential, we need more transmission to be built in pockets where it's really windy and we can connect those really windy areas with high demand areas such as Chicago."

September 27, 2010

Interview with ISO-NE as it Undertakes In-Depth Study of Integrating Wind Power into the Grid

In 2008, as Independent System Operator — New England Inc. (ISO-NE) considered adding thousands of megawatts of wind power to the region's electric grid, they turned to John Norden. With more than 27 years of experience in the region's electric systems and market operations, John was tasked with understanding the challenges posed by adding growing amounts of variable wind generation to the system. The U.S. Department of Energy Wind Powering America project's New England Wind Forum spoke with John as ISO-NE undertakes an in-depth study of integrating wind power into the grid.

May 20, 2010

Western Wind and Solar Integration Study

The Western Wind and Solar Integration Study investigates the operational impact of up to 35% energy penetration of wind, photovoltaics, and concentrating solar power on the power system operated by the WestConnect group of utilities in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

May 20, 2010

Western Wind and Solar Integration Study: Executive Summary

May 20, 2010

NREL Study Shows Power Grid can Accommodate Large Increase in Wind and Solar Generation

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory today released an initial study assessing the operational impacts and economics of increased contributions from wind and solar energy producers on the power grid. The Western Wind and Solar Integration Study examines the benefits and challenges of integrating enough wind and solar energy capacity into the grid to produce 35 percent of its electricity by 2017. The study finds that this target is technically feasible and does not necessitate extensive additional infrastructure, but does require key changes to current operational practice. The results offer a first look at the issue of adding significant amount of variable renewable energy in the West and will help utilities across the region plan how to ramp up their production of renewable energy as they incorporate more wind and solar energy plants into the power grid.

April 26, 2010

Wind Energy: Overcoming Challenges Well Worth the Outcome

An interview with Ron Rebenitsch, Basin Electric Power Cooperative Manager of Alternative Technologies, describing transmission and the 20% Wind Energy by 2030 projection for North Dakota.

April 8, 2010

The Utility Wind Integration Group Announces 2010 Technical Achievement Honorees

NREL staff to receive UWIG Technical Achievement Awards.

February 26, 2010

Department of Energy Releases New Estimates of Nation's Wind Energy Potential

New Wind Resource Assessment and Maps Available

January 27, 2010

Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study: Executive Summary and Project Overview

The Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study was designed to answer questions about technical issues related to a 20% wind energy scenario for electric demand in the Eastern Interconnection. This is the revised version which contains a few changes and replaces the pre-released version posted on 1/13/10.

January 20, 2010

Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study

The Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study examines the operational impact of up to 20-30% energy penetration of wind on the power system in the Eastern Interconnect of the United States.

January 4, 2010

Secretary Chu Announces Efforts to Strengthen U.S. Electric Transmission Networks

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today award selections for $60 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support transmission planning for the country’s three interconnection transmission networks.